Surplus value is a concept in economics, particularly associated with the ideas of Karl Marx. It refers to the difference between the value produced by a worker's labor and the wages they are paid. Essentially, it represents the profit that employers make from their workers' efforts. In a capitalist system, businesses aim to maximize surplus value by paying workers less than the value of what they produce. This process is central to understanding how profits are generated and how wealth is distributed within an economy, highlighting the relationship between labor and capital.